Influence of End-Capped Modifications in the Nonlinear Optical Amplitude of Nonfullerene-Based Chromophores with a D-π-A Architecture: A DFT/TDDFT Study

Theoretical Insights into the Structural and Optical Properties of D-π-A-based Cyanostilbene Systems of α and β Variants

The π-conjugated organic molecules containing cyanostilbene motifs have been extensively investigated due to their great potential applications in several optoelectronic and biological fields. Developing efficient molecules in this respect requires strategic structural engineering and a deep understanding of the structure-property relationship at the molecular level. In this context, understanding the impact of positional isomerism in cyanostilbene systems is a fundamental aspect of designing desired materials with improved photophysical properties. Herein, we designed ten donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) type cyanostilbene derivatives (P1 - P10) with different π linkers and compared their structural and optoelectronic properties arising from the positional variations of the -CN group (α and β- variations) through the utilization of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) methods. The topological analyses of the electron density are used to explain the relatively high stability of α isomer compared to that of β. Frontier molecular orbital analysis reveals that 17 molecules tend to show a reduced highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gap, and most of them showed a greater nonlinear optical (NLO) character compared to the parent molecule. TDDFT calculations indicate that β isomers show higher absorption maxima compared to their α counterparts. Among all the scrutinized molecules, the absorption maximum extended up to 602 nm for P9 and it possesses the highest first-order hyperpolarizability. This study sheds light on positional isomers and their reactivity, absorption spectra, and NLO properties of D-π-A type architecture that can be suitably tuned by appropriating the π-bridge for practical applications.

Use of benzothiophene ring to improve the photovoltaic efficacy of cyanopyridinone-based organic chromophores: a DFT study

The benzothiophene based chromophores (A1D1-A1D5) with A-π-A configuration were designed via end-capped tailoring with benzothiophene type acceptors using reference compound (A1R). Quantum chemical calculations were accomplished at M06/6-311G(d,p) level to probe optoelectronic and photophysical properties of designed chromophores. Therefore, frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), binding energy (Eb), open circuit voltage (Voc), transition density matrix (TDM), density of state (DOS) and UV-Vis analyses of A1R and A1D1-A1D5 were accomplished. The designed compounds (A1D1-A1D5) exhibited absorption values in the visible region as 616.316-649.676 nm and 639.753-665.508 nm in gas and chloroform phase, respectively, comparing with reference chromophore. An efficient charge transference from HOMO towards LUMO was found in A1D1-A1D5 chromophores which was further supported by TDM and DOS analyses. Among all chromophores, A1D2 exhibited unique characteristics such as reduced band gap (2.354 eV), higher softness (σ = 0.424 eV), lower exciton binding energy (0.491 eV) and maximum value of open circuit voltage (Voc = 1.981 V). Consequently, A1D2 may be considered as potential candidate for the development of optoelectronic devices. These analyses revealed that the studied compounds exhibited promising findings. They may be utilized in the realm of organic solar cells.

Heterocyclic Donor Moiety Effect on Optical Nonlinearity Behavior of Chrysene-Based Chromophores with Push-Pull Configuration via the Quantum Chemical Approach

Organic-based nonlinear optical (NLO) materials may be used in many optical-electronic systems and other next-generation defense technologies. With the importance of NLO materials, a series of push-pull architecture (D-π-A) derivatives (DTMD2-DTMD6) were devised from DTMR1 through structural alteration of different efficient donor heterocyclic groups. Density functional theory-based computations were executed at the MPW1PW91/6-31G(d,p) level to explore the NLO behavior of the derivatives. To investigate the optoelectronic behavior of the said compounds, various analyses like the frontier molecular orbital (FMO), global reactivity parameters, density of state (DOS), absorption spectra (UV-vis), natural bond orbital, and transition density matrix (TDM) were performed. The derivatives have a smaller band gap (2.156-1.492 eV) and a larger bathochromic shift (λmax = 692.838-969.605 nm) as compared to the reference chromophore (ΔE = 2.306 eV and λmax = 677.949 nm). FMO analysis revealed substantial charge conduction out of the donor toward the acceptor via a spacer that was also shown by TDM and DOS analyses. All derivatives showed promising NLO results, with the maximum amplitude of linear polarizability ⟨α⟩ and first (βtotal) and second (γtotal) hyperpolarizabilities over their reference chromophore. DTMD2 contained the highest βtotal (7.220 × 10-27 esu) and γtotal (1.720 × 10-31 esu) values corresponding with the reduced band gap (1.492 eV), representing potential futures for a large NLO amplitude. This structural modification through the use of various donors has played a significant part in achieving promising NLO behavior in the modified compounds.

Quantum Chemical Exploration of A-π1-D1-π2-D2-Type Compounds for the Exploration of Chemical Reactivity, Optoelectronic, and Third-order Nonlinear Optical Properties

Organic compounds exhibit significant nonlinear optical (NLO) properties and can be utilized in various areas like optical parameters, fiber optics, and optical communication. Herein, a series of chromophores (DBTD1-DBTD6) with an A-π₁-D₁-π₂-D₂ framework was derived from a prepared compound (DBTR) by varying the structure of π-spacer and terminal acceptor. The DBTR and its investigated compounds were optimized at the M06/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs), nonlinear optical (NLO) properties, global reactivity parameters (GRPs), natural bonding orbital (NBO), transition density matrix (TDM), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and natural population analysis (NPA) were accomplished at the abovementioned level to describe the NLO findings. DBTD6 has the lowermost band gap (2.131 eV) among all of the derived compounds. The decreasing order of highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) energy gap values was DBTR > DBTD1 > DBTD2 > DBTD3 > DBTD4 > DBTD5 > DBTD6. The NBO analysis was carried out to describe noncovalent interactions such as conjugative interactions and electron delocalization. From all of the examined substances, DBTD5 showed the highest λ_max value at 593.425 nm (in the gaseous phase) and 630.578 nm (in chloroform solvent). Moreover, the β_tot and ⟨γ⟩ amplitudes of DBTD5 were noticed to be relatively greater at 1.140 × 10^-27 and 1.331 × 10^-32 esu, respectively. So, these outcomes disclosed that DBTD5 depicted the highest linear and nonlinear properties in comparison to the other designed compounds, which underlines that it could make a significant contribution to hi-tech NLO devices.

Designing Excess Electron Compounds by Substituting Alkali Metals to a Small and Versatile Tetracyclic Framework: A Theoretical Perspective

Organic compound-based nonlinear optical (NLO) materials have sparked a lot of attention due to their multitude of applications and shorter optical response times than those of inorganic NLO materials. In the present investigation, we designed exo-exo-tetracyclo[6.2.1.1^3,6.0^2,7]dodecane (TCD) derivatives, which were obtained by replacing H atoms of methylene bridge carbon with alkali metals (Li, Na, and K). It was observed that upon the substitution of alkali metals at bridging CH₂ carbon, absorption within the visible region occurred. Moving from 1 to 7 derivatives, the maximum absorption wavelength of the complexes exhibited a red shift. The designed molecules showed a high degree of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and excess electrons in nature, which were responsible for rapid optical response time and significant large molecular (hyper)polarizability. Calculated trends also inferred that the crucial transition energy decreased in order that also played a key role in the higher nonlinear optical response. Furthermore, to examine the effect of the structure/property relationship on the nonlinear optical properties of these investigated compounds (1-7), we calculated the density of state (DOS), transition density matrix (TDM), and frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs). The largest first static hyperpolarizability (β_tot) of TCD derivative 7 was 72059 au, which was 43 times greater than that of the prototype p-nitroaniline (β_tot = 1675 au).

In Silico Designing of Thieno[2,3-b]thiophene Core-Based Highly Conjugated, Fused-Ring, Near-Infrared Sensitive Non-fullerene Acceptors for Organic Solar Cells

The performance of organic solar cells (OSCs) has been improving steadily over the last few years, owing to the optimization of device fabrication, fine-tuning of morphology, and thin-film processing. Thiophene core containing fused ring-type non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) achieved significant proficiency for highly efficient OSCs. Quantum chemical computations are utilized herein with the motive of suggesting new NIR sensitive, highly efficient low-band gap materials for OSCs. A series of extended conjugated A-π-D-π-A architectured novel fused-ring NFAs (FUIC-1-FUIC-6) containing thieno[2,3-b]thiophene-based donor core are proposed by substituting the end-capped units of synthesized molecule F10IC. Different properties including frontier molecular orbital analysis, density of states analysis, transition density matrix analysis, excitation energy, reorganizational energies of both holes (λ_h) and electrons (λ_e), and open-circuit voltage (V _oc) were performed employing the density functional theory approach. Charge transfer analysis of the best-designed molecule with the donor complex was analyzed to comprehend the efficiency of novel constructed molecules (FUIC-1-FUIC-6) and compared with the reference. End-caped acceptor alteration induces the reduction of the energy gap between HOMO-LUMO (1.88 eV), tunes the energy levels, longer absorption in the visible and near-infrared regions, larger V _oc, smaller reorganizational energies, and binding energy values in designed structures (FUIC-1-FUIC-6) in comparison to reference (FUIC). The designed molecules show the best agreement with the PTBT-T donor polymer blend and cause the highest charge from the HOMO to the LUMO orbital. Our findings predicted that thieno[2,3-b] thiophene-based newly designed molecules would be efficient NFAs with outstanding photovoltaic characteristics and can be used in future applications of OSCs.